Stress, Coping Styles and Symptom Severity in Women with PCOS

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder for reproductive age women,is characterized by androgen excess, menstrual problems, and metabolic irregularities. Stressconstitutes one of the key factors that contribute to the pathophysiology and severity ofsymptoms in PCOS and is associated with coping mechanisms that impact psychological andphysical well-being. This study aims to explore the impact of stress, coping styles, and symptomseverity on Indian women with PCOS, through the clear role of mediators constituted byadaptive, maladaptive, and emotional coping styles. The study draws upon Lazarus andFolkman's Transactional Model of Stress, the Biopsychosocial Model, and the Conservation ofResources Theory. It highlights the socio-cultural pressures unique to Indian women: familyexpectations in gender roles; together, these enhance stress and hinder effective coping. A cross-sectional correlational design; data will be collected from 80 Indian women diagnosed, agedfrom 18-45 with PCOS. The study expects to find significant correlations between stress, copingstyles, and symptom severity: adaptive coping to alleviate and maladaptive coping to renderaggravated symptom severity. This study accentuates cultural and social aspects that generatescoping visions into a holistic picture of managing the condition and emphasizes the need forensuring culturally appropriate interventions that could facilitate Indian women to improve theirquality of life and treatment outcomes.